More than twenty community members shared their enthusiasm and commitment Tuesday evening. Notes taken by Barb McDonald.
Two proposals were unanimously agreed upon by the ad hoc steering committee after group discussions.
1. MVG process proposal A process for making MVG an awesome community space.
- Provides process structure, decision-making guidelines and actionable timeline to move space forward.
- Establishes our prologue timeframe, August 7 to September 18, and planning period, September 18 to February 28.
- The formal steering committee, guides for the planning process, will be selected September 18.
- Program clusters, based on community vision, will be confirmed by the steering committee. These stakeholder groups will work out the details for specific projects and present them as proposals for community feedback. “Space budgets” (square footage needed) will be included in each proposal. The estimate for MVG overall square feet is 20,000 feet (100 wide and 200 deep.)
- Projects approved during the prologue period will be provisional for 2012 only, and may become permanent projects based on approval of formal proposals for 2013. Approved temporary projects will commence one week after approval to allow for additional community feedback.
This proposal will be ratified at next week’s meeting (August 14). If there are no objections, it will be approved.
2. Feedback Farms proposal
FBF to build a functioning, four season, production micro farm with annual research trials and education center at MVG. First phase is approximately 600 square feet, including 20 FBF planters and 10 community common use planters. FFB will supply all materials, plans and construction coordination. FBF is a not-for-profit fiscally sponsored by IOBY. Produce from the FBF sub irrigation planters will be sold to local restaurants and offered at a farm stand to fund the micro farm. FFB will host volunteer days, workshops, and other community involvement opportunities at MVG. Updated proposal from FBF, reflecting discussion points, forthcoming. Material delivery to start next week. Visit FBF’s first farm at 348 Bergen Street.
This proposal will be ratified at next week’s meeting (August 14). If there are no objections, it will be approved.
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OTHER ACTIONS
Composting cluster formed. Master composter knowledge welcome and needed. (Additionally, Dirt Works provides residential compost systems and is interested in MVG as a partner sites for composting of food scraps collected by their program.)
Agenda items discussed with outcomes pending:
- Sukkot Festival Proposal. A verbal proposal that MVG physically host an annual harvest festival comprised primarily of amusement rides for kids, along with education opportunities, held in celebration of Sukkot. A written proposal is forthcoming, to detail the scope of the event and address concerns that were raised by the committee as this event is outside the current MVG agreement with DEP.
- Reconnecting with schools in time for September programming to be planned. (Paula to outreach.)
- Infrastructure. Relationship with Pratt Community Council not formalized; letter from PCC forthcoming. Telephone wires hanging over site, (Jerry researching.) Site has water. Setting up bank account for MVG funds, (Cameron pursuing.) Thanks to PCC for providing MVG waivers and key sign out forms to be signed by volunteers.
- Mural.
- Telephone lines – Jerry to connect with phone company.
Agenda for the next meeting, August 14, 6;30pm:
- Ratification of process proposal & feedback farms proposal1 minute report-backs about bike rack (Paula), phone lines (Jerry), bank account (Cameron), compost (Compost Cluster), letter from PACC (Drew), Donations from Elba (Stephan), bulletin board (Eric)
Presentation of Sukkot Festival Proposal
NEW PROPOSAL: layout for provisional projects (Angelo)
NEW PROPOSAL: BBQ procedure (for individual people/families to enter the space with a grill)
NEW PROPOSAL: Children’s Education
NEW PROPOSAL: Removing Asphalt?
NEW PROPOSAL: Benches
Fundraising & Grant Writing
Dog Run
Mural
Chickens
Planting trees
Don’t forget:
- The Steering Committee is still open. If you want to be on it, just say so.
- Our regular Steering Committee meeting will be Tuesdays at the site (636 Myrtle Ave) at 6:30pm. The next one is August 14. Bring a blanket to sit on and share. See you there.
- Regular work/volunteer days will be Sundays at 2pm. The first one will be August 12. Mark your calendar.
- We are accepting donations of potted plants and other interim, portable things to improve the site with immediately. For all other donations and proposals, please bring your idea to a Steering Committee.
